Though gorgeous and charismatic, sluggish control and aging gameplay keep this from being something truly special.
Counter Punch has its own charm and doesn't outright copy the Punch Out!! formula. As you progress in the game's story mode, you'll run across some personalities that will offer you a variety of help, if the price is right. You can pay one of four people along the way to teach you new moves or jump in mid-fight on your behalf. This seems to work, as it allows your character, Wade, to naturally progress and get stronger as you climb up the boxing ladder. Unfortunately, the money system used feels cumbersome and needlessly repetative. You end up spending time fighting the same guys over and over, just to make a buck.
The big seller for this game is its beautiful graphics. Its cel-shaded look gives it so much personality and it's one of the best-looking GBA games out there. Combined with a good brand of humor and a quirky storyline, this adds up to a great atmosphere that really draws you in.
The boxing mechanics are harder to master in this game than in previous similiar titles, because dodging is side-specific. Every left-handed punch from your opponent must be dodged to the right side, and vice-versa. Unfortunately, unlike the original Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! and its follow-up, Super Punch Out for SNES, this game doesn't hold up in terms of ease of control, as it is a bit sluggish and unforgiving. Normally, this wouldn't matter that much, as its nothing awful, but in a game like this, reponse and timing are ever so important.
Each character starts out extremely difficult, until you learn the ropes, and then they become a breeze. The exception to this is the last guy, that, like Mike Tyson was 19 years ago, is so unbelievablely hard and frustrating that it puts your gameboy at risk of being damaged while being used as a projectile.
Overall, Wade Hixton's Counter Punch is worth playing for old-timey Punch Out fans, but don't be surprised if the trial and error gameplay has aged more than you thought it could.